Campus Martius Park did very well in Planetizen's recent survey to list the Top 100 Public Spaces in the U.S. and Canada, a collaboration with Project for Public Spaces (of which Kent is president). Kent says the poor economy is actually helping drive placemaking:
"In a way, the economy is helping us," Kent says. "People know they can't do big expensive projects, and instead they're doing a lot of little ones. There has been an explosion of interest because of that."
Bruch writes:
"Kent says the key to creating good public spaces is making people feel comfortable."